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Reference: 4009 Arts & Crafts Writing Desk by Shapland & Petter Approximate Age: Late Victorian - Circa 1900 Principal Wood: Oak Size: 43"(w) x 24"(d) x 43"(h) 109cm(w) x 61cm(d) x 109cm(h)   Price: SOLD   XE.com Personal Currency Assistant

A superb example of an inlaid late Victorian Arts & Crafts writing desk in oak, by the renowned firm Shapland & Petter of Barnstaple. This serpentine fronted piece is marquetry decorated with stylised sprays of Honesty blossom and exhibits numerous Arts & Crafts characteristics:

FEATURES:  4009 Antique Arts & Crafts Writing Desk by Shapland & Petter

• Original glazed and ornately applied copper leaded panel to the back
• Original applied copper drop handles to the serpentine fronted single drawer
• Original, maker-stamped, heart-shaped back plates to the twin handles, in applied copper
• Original brass lever lock to the drawer, stamped 'SP&B'
• Original recessed steel castors to the moulded plinths
• Original marquetry inlay used to extensively decorate the front and gallery elevations
• Three-quarter moulded and shaped ledged gallery superstructure
• Good quality replacement tooled light green leather, inset to the writing surface
• Hand-cut dovetail joints to the drawer
• Oak linings to the drawer, with brass keyhole liner to the lock
• Blind fretwork panels to the upper outer face of both side elevations, above open shelves
• Pedestals raised on plinth bases, with recessed wheeled castors
• Moulded stretchers uniting the openwork end supports
• Stamped Registered Design number to the plain polished rear elevation (R1496 82)
• Handle back-plates stamped on the reverse with Rd 355072 (a design registered by Loach & Clark of Effington in Birmingham, in April 1900).

DIMENSIONS:  4009 Antique Arts & Crafts Writing Desk by Shapland & Petter

• Width = 43" (109cm). Depth = 24" (61cm)
• Maximum height = 43" (109cm)
• Kneehole width (measured between pedestals) = 31" (79cm)
• Sitting  or kneehole height (floor to the bottom of the frieze)  = 24" (61cm)
• Writing surface height from floor = 30" (76cm)
• Frieze drawer width (internal) = 29" (74cm)
• Frieze drawer internal depth (front to back) = 20" (51cm)
• Frieze drawer height = 3" (7.5cm).

A restored and conserved desk identical in design to our Ref 4009 but originally made in white painted oak is held by the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon. The photo of the white desk has been reproduced here by kind permission of the museum, which also holds other archive material relating to Shapland & Petter, along with a small display of other S&P furniture.

This desk design is illustrated in an original Shapland & Petter 'Catalogue of Drawings' (p.67) held in the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon archives; listed under 'Drawing Room Writing Tables'. The design is described as a 3' 6" inlaid desk, which would be made with the option of the pilasters being 'fretcut when not inlaid'.

For more information about the 150 years of Shapland & Petter history, see 'Shapland & Petter Ltd of Barnstaple - Arts & Crafts Furniture' by Daryl Bennett - (ISBN No. 0 9550316 0 5). Bennett devotes a whole chapter to collecting Shapland & Petter furniture (pp 115-128) and comments that most Shapland & Petter pieces are "recognised and highly prized by collectors" (p115).